Paul Barrere auditioned on bass and failed. Thankfully George gave him a second chance -- this time, on guitar. Barrere's guitar noodles are vital to the Feat sound.

What overpowers me about this album is the barrage of excessively good tracks: no sooner have you got over the perfection of 'Dixie Chicken', than you have the intricate rhythms and guitar work of 'Two Trains' to handle. And then the acoustic marvel that is 'Roll Um Easy'. Outstanding tracks keep coming, and they still haven't reached either of my two favourites, the keyboards-led 'Kiss It Off' and the gorgeous love-song, 'Juliette'. The keyboards are excellent throughout this album. Malcolm Cecil, who introduced Stevie Wonder to the synthesizer prior to MUSIC OF MY MIND, provides the dominant instrumental contribution to 'Kiss It Off' (as he did on the Doobie Brothers' CAPTAIN & ME).

The album is a masterpiece, but commercially it dived, at least initially. Maybe it was something as crazy as the cover, which is one of Neon Park's plainest and least surreal, which failed to attract enough buyers. Warner Brothers didn't know what to do with the LP, later re-issuing it as a very cheap double LP with SAILIN' SHOES.

By the time that THE LAST RECORD ALBUM was released, people began to appreciate DIXIE CHICKEN's classic status. Lowell George could do no wrong -- at least on record -- and everyone seemed to want him on their album, including Robert Palmer, the McGarrigle sisters and Jackson Browne. It is simply a brilliant album, with a huge variety of styles, all smouldering within an undefinable New Orleans genre.


LA goes New Orleams Funky   August 17, 2004
Peppino
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

Really, I did listen to rock musics from late 60s to early 70s, but the rockmusics sounds usually did not send me into "7th heaven", then, less even now.

I heard one evening from the radio (of ALL places), the "Vanilla soul" sweet like honey voice of one Lowell George singing the centerpiece composition of this recording, "Giuliette", and I was IMMEDIATE hooked ! He sang the stars outta those words!

I purchased the vinyl disc ASAP, and found myself enjoying this Los Angeles native son's version of New Orleans -influenced sounds and subtle country-rock (ay madre!) very much .

The addition of Paul Barrere (guitar) and Bill Payne (keyboards) to the group (I read their history) added some more fluent solo stylings IMO, and later to bring a quase-jazz influence to the band in the next 2 releases, a blessing to the ears for someone as I who was a "jazzman" to begin with.

Aside the aforementioned gem "Giuliette",
Lowell's aching vocalistics (he had the "cry" for sure,a rare gift) grace the mysterious "Kiss it Off"(Can I call a composition called Kiss it off "mysterious, hehehe!),

and his Allen Toussaint(guests on keys) vudu-mojo "warning " of Karma payback in "On the Way Down" is ALMOST "Gris- Gris" period Dr John (the Night Tripper)one better!

I care less for the rocking sounds on the cd, but, as most who probably are visiting this review now can be assured, the rockmusics are a joy, and each tune has at least one creative "trick" up the sleeve that sets it above being just a "pedestrian" rock tune.

"Fool Yourself" is such fine country rock styling (as was the original Little Feat more married to this sound), it makes the "real thing" Country rock groups sound "inferior".

Take it from a "jazz-Brasilian musics snobby " elitista, if I enjoy this CD, one with more rock roll sympathies should get even more enjoyment from the recording.

I have not keep track of this group since the live recording with the "Swinging Tomato" on the cover, but I imagine, even without the Lowell George (Who passed from this planeta much too soon), they are still making nice sounds. (Are they?)

100000 stars for the compositions I love on this recording, and you can choose how many constellations on the other songs for yourself, enjoy please!




Thirty Six Minutes of Pleasure   April 24, 2005
Tennessee Jed (Florida)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Back in the day albums came on two sides and had artwork that rivaled the best contemporary art. In those days an Album was a work of art, not a product to be shifted. If you have not yet heard this CD, get out that credit card and choose overnight shipping. You will thank me.

I came across Little Feat a few years ago by way of trading Grateful Dead, Phish and Dave Matthews Band bootlegs. I downloaded a complete show from 1973 from sharingthegroove.org. Well the RIAA took down Sharingthegrove with a lawsuit (guess they want everyone to pay for the groove), but I still have that bootleg. And one week later I owned ever official recorded piece of music Lowell George and company produced. Take that Hillary Rosen!

You may have heard "Dixie Chicken" by way of Garth Brooks. Get that version out of your mind right now. He didn't get it. This isn't country music, it's immersed in the blues --Lowell George's language. Fried in the blues may be more accurate-- blues infatuated with New Orleans R&B and mellow jamming. Get this first and go forwards and then backwards though the little feat catalog. And think, where else can you find over a half hour of bliss for less than 10.99?


Their best next to Sailin' Shoes   April 10, 2006
John Alapick (Wilkes-Barre, PA United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Dixie Chicken is Little Feat's third album and is regarded among longtime fans as their best work. Like their previous albums, Little Feat and Sailin' Shoes, Dixie Chicken would garner much critical acclaim but slow sales. The album also showed a change in direction in their music. While Sailin' Shoes was steeped in country, blues, and boogie music, Dixie Chicken is laid back and funkier. This would also be the album to debut longtime Feat members Paul Barrere, Sam Clayton, and Kenny Gradney. Barrere, in particular, would play a pivotal role in the band, gradually writing more songs with their later releases and would be the major voice of the band when they regrouped in 1988.

But Lowell George was still the star of the show on Dixie Chicken, writing most of the songs and adding those gruff distinctive lead vocals to every track. As for the songs, they're all very good although I believe the tracks on Sailin' Shoes are slightly better overall. The title track is to this day the band's best and most memorable song, featuring clever wordplay and slide guitar from George and a memorable piano hook from Bill Payne. Country superstar Garth Brooks would later do a respectable cover of this in the `90s, in effect introducing the greatness of Little Feat to a whole new audience. "Fat Man in the Bathtub", another one of George's great story songs, is arguably their second best track with Richie Hayward lending the opening hook with his busy drum line. While the rest of the tracks aren't as widely known, they're all very strong. Songs like the funky "Two Trains", the rollicking "Walkin' All Night", and the dark blues of "On Your Way Down" show George in all of his glory with some of the sweetest slide playing you'll ever hear and the female backing vocals, performed by future superstar Bonnie Raitt among others, providing a nice touch. Another great track is "Fool Yourself", which was written by Fred Tackett, who would later join Little Feat when they reunited for the Let It Roll album and continues to play a major role in the band. "Lafayette Railroad" is a cool instrumental that the band continues to play live while "Juliette", with its arrangement and solemn flute line, recalls a livelier version of Traffic. "Roll Um Easy" and "Kiss It Off" are both very laid back tunes with George's vocals providing the perfect accompaniment. All told, Dixie Chicken is one of the best works from one of the finest American rock bands. Highly recommended.